MD -> MD/PhD??

[tiedyeddog]

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There are only three schools I am applying to and would consider attending, and one of them doesn't have a fully funded MD/PhD, one is MSTP, and the one I really want to get into is non-MSTP but fully funded. I am not applying to any other programs due to distance from my significant other. I would rather wait for her to finish her program (4 years) than be seperated.

I have a 3.82 GPA, only 1.5 years of research, and I doubt I'll score higher than a 34 on the MCAT (taking it tomorrow...). I doubt I have a shot at the MD/PhD program that is most preferable to me and I will be at a disadvantage for MD only when I do get rejected from the MD/PhD program due to how late it will be in the cycle.

Has anyone applied MD only, gotten in, and then entered into their institutions MD/PhD program? Would I be better off applying MD/PhD outright and then just reapplying if I get rejected? (Also, I am ok with the idea of taking out loans for MS1 if that is what it takes.)

 

[alacast]

This isn't an answer to your question, but where's the fully funded, non-MSTP MD/PhD program?

 

[tiedyeddog]

This isn't an answer to your question, but where's the fully funded, non-MSTP MD/PhD program?

Ohio State.

 

[dmblue]

Ohio State.

Worst school ever

 

[sleepy425]

worst school ever

lol

 

[fibrosis mudfud]

I applied for only MD and during my first year, decided that I wanted to do MD/PhD. I applied to the combined program at my MD school during the summer between 1st and second year. I had to go through the whole admissions process and interview and didn't end up hearing that I had been accepted until March of my second year of med school. So it is possible, but is a very stressful and drawn out way to do it. My program had also accepted some people from 2nd year and from people taking a research year out before, so I knew that it would be possible.

That said, you really need to decide what is right for you. If you apply to only MD, would you be happy if you ultimately weren't accepted into the MD/PhD program? The combined program also might make you wait to apply until your second year of med school, so you would have to live with not knowing your fate for another couple of years.

If you applied to MD/PhD and didn't get in, do you think you would be able to improve your application during the extra year so you could apply again?

Finally some advice if you do go the MD only and then apply for combined program. You need to work you butt off during first and second year to get good grades because the admissions committee will probably take them into account. Also if you could get involved in research in a lab with a respected PI, a rec letter from within the institution can carry a lot of weight.

Hope that helps.

 

[tiedyeddog]

I applied for only MD and during my first year, decided that I wanted to do MD/PhD. I applied to the combined program at my MD school during the summer between 1st and second year. I had to go through the whole admissions process and interview and didn't end up hearing that I had been accepted until March of my second year of med school. So it is possible, but is a very stressful and drawn out way to do it. My program had also accepted some people from 2nd year and from people taking a research year out before, so I knew that it would be possible.

That said, you really need to decide what is right for you. If you apply to only MD, would you be happy if you ultimately weren't accepted into the MD/PhD program? The combined program also might make you wait to apply until your second year of med school, so you would have to live with not knowing your fate for another couple of years.

If you applied to MD/PhD and didn't get in, do you think you would be able to improve your application during the extra year so you could apply again?

Finally some advice if you do go the MD only and then apply for combined program. You need to work you butt off during first and second year to get good grades because the admissions committee will probably take them into account. Also if you could get involved in research in a lab with a respected PI, a rec letter from within the institution can carry a lot of weight.

Hope that helps.

This helps a ton. I have decided to take a year off and apply only MD/PhD. I really would not be happy only doing MD only and I would like to give my best shot at MD/PhD programs.

Thanks again.